Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, Alderman Michael Scott, Jr., community leaders and ministers to announce a new $250,000 city fund to support local gun buy-back events across the city – an effort to get guns off the street and save lives in Chicago neighborhoods. Under this new format the city will partner with interested community organizations that apply to host buy-backs in their neighborhoods.

“Everyone has a role to play in the safety of our city, and this new partnership is a great example of how we can all work together to make our communities safer,” said Mayor Emanuel. “As police, pastors and community leaders come together to encourage people to turn in their guns, we can help turn the tide in our fight against gun violence.”

When the city hosted gun buy-backs in the past they were held as a single event, run specifically by the city. Under the new format the city will partner with community organizations to host a number of buy-backs across the city.

Organizations can apply directly to the police department and will be responsible for organizing and advertising the events. Chicago police will staff the buy-back events, recover the guns, and provide cash cards for guns turned in. The $250,000 fund will be used to purchase the cash cards, and is funded through the existing CPD budget. “Illegal guns drive violence in our neighborhoods, and we must do everything possible to keep them off our streets,” said Superintendent McCarthy. “Our officers already recover more illegal guns than officers in any other city in the country, and this new take on gun buy-backs will help us get even more guns out of our communities.” Community organizations interested in partnering with Chicago Police to host a gun buy-back event can email Buyback@chicagopolice.org for more information on how to apply.